POLICE uncovered a cannabis farm worth £200,000 after an alert neighbours reported what they thought was a burglary taking place.

Police were called to an address on Railway Terrace North in New Herrington, on the outskirts of Sunderland, shortly after 4am on Monday, after a resident spotted a group of men attempting to barge their way into the property - the group left a short time later empty-handed.

That prompted police to carry out a search of the area, and on entering the address in question, they found a man fast asleep on the settee.

More than 200 plants at various stages of growth were seized and it transpired that the electricity had also been by-passed.

A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of producing a Class B drug and he remains in police custody. at this time.

Sergeant Steve Passey, of Northumbria Police, said: “It’s safe to say the suspect was a little surprised when he was awoken by our officers and swiftly escorted into a custody cell.

“But this was an important discovery of a drugs farm worth a significant amount of money – with plants found growing in various rooms of the property.

“Not only was this an illicit operation, but it was a highly dangerous one too. The set-up was an amateur one and could so easily have resulted in a fire that threatened the lives of not only the occupants, but families living in neighbouring properties too.

“Nobody wants to live next to a potential death trap, and that’s why it’s absolutely crucial that people report this kind of criminality to us.

“Thankfully, the swift actions of the member of the public who saw something suspicious and rightly reported it has helped us dismantle this farm and keep the drugs out of the hands of the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Anyone who suspects drug-related criminality in their area should contact Tell Us Something page of the force website or contact calling 101.